Protestors lined up outside of Anaheim City Hall to protest two deadly officer-involved shootings during the weekend. Tuesday marks the third day of protests by Anaheim residents who think the police have gone too far. The shootings and community unrest is the subject of a council meeting Tuesday at Anaheim City Hall. Ted Chen reports from Anaheim for the NBC4 News at 5p.m. on July 24, 2012.
Protesters gathered at an Anaheim City Council meeting Tuesday, July 24, to rally against a spate of fatal officer-involved shootings that killed two men during the weekend. Vikki Vargas reports from outside Anaheim City Hall for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on July 24, 2012.
Shortly after 9 p.m., a disperal order was issued to a group of demonstrators that began gathering outside Anaheim City Hall around 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon to rally against recent fatal officer-involved shootings, police said.
A group of demonstrators could be seen fleeing from the intersection of Anaheim Boulevard and Broadway after officers reportedly shot pepper balls at their feet, police said.
At least two fires broke out during the protest -- one in a trash bin, another near a bus bench, according to aerial footage. It was not immediately clear if the fires were related to the protest or how they started.
Tuesday's protest was the latest demonstration sparked by a recent spate of fatal police shootings. Crowds started gathering around 4 p.m. to urge councilmembers to investigate those shootings and reform the city's police force, which residents have accused of racial profiling.
The council chamber reached capacity and police in riot gear blocked access to the meeting.
The demonstration swelled into the streets at about 6:30 p.m. While the protest escalated outside, the Anaheim City Council continued to meet.
Law enforcement from several surrounding cities descended on the area to provide mutual aid, police said.
Skirmish lines established by officers in riot gear attempted to corral demonstrators near the 200 block of South Anaheim Boulveard.
Within an hour, much of the police presence had dissipated from the area immediately around City Hall and the crowd moved -- some on foot, others on bicycles -- down Anaheim Boulevard waving flags, carrying signs and speaking into passing cars.
As of 8:30 p.m., a crowd continued to mill about around City Hall and a separate group appeared to gather near the scene of one of the deadly shootings, setting up a candlelight vigil, according to aerial footage.
Officers in riot gear continued to line the streets near Broadway and Anaheim Boulevard in what appeared to be preparation for their 9 p.m. dispersal order.
The protest turned violent as demonstrators threw objects at officers and squad cars, according to televised footage. Witnesses reported officers firing rubber bullets into the crowd, but Anaheim police could not confirm that.
At least one person was arrested, said Sgt. Bob Dunn with Anaheim police.
At about 6:30 p.m., police received a call that a man in the crowd had a gun on his waistband. That man fled from police and was subsequently booked for resisting arrest, Dunn said. No weapons were found.
The crowd reportedly threw rocks, bricks and traffic cones, Dunn said, adding that at least one person -- a print reporter -- appeared to be injured, possibly struck with a rock.
Officials say there have been eight officer-involved shootings in the city this year, including two fatal incidents during the weekend.
Manuel Angel Diaz, 25, was shot and killed Saturday after a foot pursuit through an alley in the 700 block of North Anna Drive -- an area where police say they've noticed an increase in gang and narcotics crimes.
That shooting sparked protests during the weekend, including one on Saturday in which a trash bin was set on fire and a small group of people threw rocks and bottles at police. Three people were detained, officials said.
On Sunday night, Anaheim officers shot and a killed a man following a pursuit that ended near West Guinida Lane and Iris Street when two men and woman fled from a sport utility vehicle. Police said one of the men pulled out a gun and officers opened fire.
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait called for a state and federal probe of the fatal shootings during a news conference Sunday, at which some 70 protesters stormed the lobby.
"Transparency is essential," Tait said Sunday. "The investigation will seek the truth. And whatever the truth is, we will own it."
At least four agencies are involved in or are expected to join the investigation, including the U.S. Attorney's office, the State Attorney General, the Anaheim Police Department's Officer of Internal Affairs and -- as is usual for officer-involved shootings -- the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Officials said the Anaheim Police Department stepped up patrols in advance of Tuesday's demonstration -- the latest in a city that has been dotted with protests for days.
Anaheim was among six California cities with a population over 100,000 that saw the biggest spikes in violent crime in 2011, according to an analysis of FBI crime data released last month.
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